Officials discuss allowing restaurant at castle

VERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) — Officials have given preliminary approval for a restaurant to open at a central Kentucky castle.

The Lexington Herald Leader (http://bit.ly/10f82YI) reports that Woodford County magistrates will take a final vote on the issue next month.

Only one person voted against the measure, which would also allow horse farms, historic structures and other landmarks to open restaurants and gift shops and hold special events. Magistrate Larry Craig said the term "tourist destination" in the amendment to the county's planning ordinance was too vaguely defined.

"I think it's a little too vague, because a tourist destination could be Three Chimneys Farm, it could be 90 percent of the horse farms in the county," Craig said. "I could see if a farm changes hands, someone seeing that as an opportunity to go from less agriculture and to more commercialism.

"If we're going to preserve agriculture in Woodford County, I think it needs to be a working farm more than a tourist destination," Craig said.

The castle, a landmark in Woodford County, was renovated by current owner Tom Post, who opened it in 2008 as CastlePost, a luxury bed-and-breakfast.